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Sandberg sets tone in first full Phillies workout

Manager Ryne Sandberg talks about the excitement surrounding the Phillies' first day of camp and the expectations he laid out for the team

By Todd Zolecki
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MLB.com |

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Phillies held their first full-squad workout Tuesday at Carpenter Complex, and it opened with a few words from manager Ryne Sandberg.

"Just to get everybody on the same page as far as expectations, my philosophies on things and my definitions on things," he said. "Respecting the game was one of the topics. I gave some examples. I laid things out there so there are no misunderstandings. In a lot of ways, it felt like back in the day, an Opening Day-type of thing. There was anxiousness. Good butterflies. I was excited to see everybody and actually get started with the process of molding the guys together as a unit."

The workout began with baserunning drills, something Sandberg said he plans to continue.

"That's an area that I think needs improvemen,t so when they stretch and go out and do the baserunning, I think it becomes a major priority," he said. "The guys are fresh. These first few days are about technique, it's not necessarily conditioning, and it's definitely not a punishment, but it's a technique and it's a fundamental exercise and that'll be stressed. It's great on the feedback. The guys said, 'Hey, it was great, it got us loose.'"

Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.